Tractor



H. H. BATES.

TRACTOR.

APPLICATION FILED m1,?, 1920.

6 SHEETS-SHEET lif I l b l lJCc-wjry H 256,5 fi/ f@ O l?" @D l Q Q Il $1 I Q I? J3 t@ Q am y I l T I Q Q lnenor:

H. H. BATES.

TRACTOR.

APPLICATION man FEB.7,1920.

1,369,316. Peeeeeee Fee. 2z, 1921.

GSHEETS-SHEET 2- H. H. BATES.

TRACTOR.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 7.4920.

1,369,531 6. Patented Feb. 22, 1921. 6 SHEETS-SHEET 3- 25 E# C* 25a lm/enor: Hrrylae H. H. BATES.

TRACTOR. APPLICATION FILED F5317, 1920.

Patented Feb. 22, 1921.'

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4- iff/fg@ I i I f I I /06 /07/02 e I H. H. BATES.

TRACTOR.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 7 1920.

Peeeeeed Feb. 22,1921.

IIIIIII 6 SHEETS-SHEET 5 H. H. BATES.V

TRACTOR. APPLICATION FILED FEB.7.1920.

Ll. I Patented Feb. 22,1921.

' 6 SHEETS-SHEET t HARRY H. BATES, OF J' OLIET, ILLINOIS, ASS

COMPANY, OF JOLIET, ILLINOIS,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IGNOR TO BATES MACHINE AND TRACTOR A CORPORATION I OF DELAWARE.

TRACTOR.

Original application led November 7, 1917, SerialiNo. 200,696. Divided and this ruary'?, 1920. Serial No. 356,887.

To all 'whom 'it m04/ concern.'

Be it known that I, HARRY H. BATES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Joliet, in the county of Will and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Tractors, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has t0 do with certain improvements in tractors and the like. The present application is a division of my copending application for Letters Patent of the United States on improvements in tractors?, Serial No. 200,696, filed November 7, 191

The present application has to do particularly with the construction and arrangement of tractors intended specially for use in the field and in conjunction with farm and tillage implements and the like. In this work, the tractor should be so designed and .constructed that it may be easily controlled and steered notwithstanding the fact thatl the field is being cut and furrowed.

One of the objects of the present invenf tion is to provide a tractor construction such that it may be readily used in the tilling and cultivating-of fields. Another feature in this connection is to provide a tractor construction of such arrangement that the driving mechanisms, whereby traction is secured, may always travel on solidand uncut ground, while at the Same time making provision for the engagement of the steering devices with a 'previously cut furrow so that the operations of the machine may be readily controlled in relation to the furrows already cut.

Inthis connection another object of the invention is to provide a tractor construction in which thetraction is secured by the use of crawlers, and in this connection articularly to associate wjith the crawliers,

steering wheels located ata greater gage or separation than the crawlers, so that one of said steering wheels may at alltimes travel in a previously cut furrow while allowing both of the crawlers to travel on Other objects and Arises of the invention Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 22, 1921.

application led Febbodying the features of the present invention; Fig. 2

Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a front end elevation; Fig. 4 is a rear end elevation;

is a plan view corresponding to Fig. 5 shows a horizontal section through4 the transmission gearing; and

Fig. 6 shows a vertical section taken on line 6-6 of`Fig. 5 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the drawings, I will explain in the first place that while I have therein shown a particular embodiment of the features of my invention, still I do not limit myself to the said embodiment except as I may do so in the claims.

In this embodiment of the invention, the engine is located within `a hood or casing 9 at the front end of which is the radiator 10. The steering wheel 11 is conveniently carried by the rearwardly slanting post 12 and stands in position for convenient manipulation by the Ioperator seating on the drivers seat 13. This arrangement is a very conv nient one from the standpoint of ease of9 control, and, furthermore, it resembles the approved practice in many forms of automobile construction The frame of the machine includes a pair of side bars 14 underneath thelsides of the engine (only one of said bars appearing in Fig. 1). The front portions of these bars are connected together by a yoke or saddle 15 which appears infront elevation'in Fig. 3, the brackets 16 extending forwardly from said saddle and supporting the radiator. To the lower portion of the saddle 15 is connected the front axle 17. This front axle is conveniently built up from the lower fiat bar 18 which extends straight across, and the.A

upper fiat bar 19 which is bent in the form clearly shown in Fig. 3. The end portlons of the bar 19 are bent `up as shown at 20 and 21 so as to accommodate the yokes 22 and 23 for the spindles of the front wheels 24 and 25. The' central portion of the bar 1 9 is also bent up and .carries thepracket 26 which is pinned to the central part of the saddle 15 bya horizontal pin 27 l as shown in Fig. 3.Y This arrangement permits the front axle and the frame of the machine to tilt withv respect to each other about a longitudinal horizontal axis. Brace rods or bars 28 and 29 extend rearwardly from the end portions of the front axle 17 and steady the same so as to keep it in line. The reach rod.30 connects together the steering yokes of the front wheels in the manner well understood in the art. IThe steering wheel 11 is operatively connected to the front wheels in a manner which is also well understood in the art, and I willrnot further describe these parts in detail.

Extending rearwardly from the frame bars 14 are the side bars 31 `and 32. These side bars carry or are connected to the gear shifting box 33 and the clutch box 34. The construction of certain of these parts will be explained more in detail presently.- A draft v central portion -of a cross bar 39 to the-cenbar is mounted in the rear portion of the machine. It isof V-shaped formation, having its ends 36 and 37 'connected to the frame of the machine in any suitable manner. A tension rod 38 slants downwardly from. the

tral portion of the draft bar 35 and serves to support the draft bar at the proper elevatin. ,A turn buckle 40 serves as a convenient means for adjusting this tension rod 38 to the exact length desired. I

Across the rear portion of the machine extends an axle 41 on theends of which are mounted the crawler wheels 4 2. The axle 4l is connected to the frame by the boxes 43 .and 4 4, as'illustrated in Fig. 4. Ordinarily the wheels 42 willbe journaled on v is not necessary for the axle to rotate, but,

the end portions' of the axle 41, so that it in some cases, the boxes .43 and 44 may be constructed as journal boxes so as to permit rotation of the axle. In order, however, to secure the dillerential. action presently to be explained between the two crawlers, it is desirablevthat the wheels 42 should be jourf naled 'on the axle.

ities or irregularities in the surface of the ground. A wheel 47 is-journaled between the front portions of each pair of arms 45 and ,46. For this purpose, the forward ends of said arms are slotted drbifurcated to re- ,ceive thejournal boxes'for'the -wheels 47,

which journal boxes may slide back and j Vforth. Springs 49 draw the journal boxes' 65 forwardwth respect to the arms 45 and 46 so as to hold the wheels 4 7 forwardly under spring tension.

A crawler chain 50 travels over the wheels 42 and 47 at each side of the machine. Manifestly the springs 49 will maintain the crawler chains under tension at all times,- and by regulating the stiffness of these springs and the amount of'their compression, it is possible to maintain the desired amount of tensionin the crawler chains'. In those cases where the length of the crawler is such that full advantage will not be taken of the area whichl it. presents to the ground, an additional idler wheel 51`may be journaled to the arms 45 and 46 so as to throw pressure onto thecentral portion -of the crawler chain.

In fact it will generally be found desirable to use an idler pinion or wheel of this type. The driving of the crawler chain is ordinarily accomplished through the medium of the wheels 42. These wheels are, there.'- fore, generally constructed as sprocket wheels engaging the links of the crawler chains. The wheels 47 and 51 may or may not be 4sprocket wheels depending upon the wishes of the designer, inasmuch yas they simply serve to guide the travel of the chain.

Any suitable form of gear shifting and transmission arrangement may be used for delivering power to the crawler chains, and, consequently, I do not limit myself to any particular form for the construction of these parts except as I may do so in the claims. I have already mentioned that, in many cases, it may be very diliicult to control the operation of a machine of this kind entirely in turning the curve, if sole reliance is placed upon the use of the front steering wheels. InY Athis connection I have explained that .the steering functions maybe improved -in many cases by making provision for independently controlling or modifying the speeds of the crawlers so as to thereby produce a turning effort in the very act of driving the machine. `I, therefore, have in this present specification and drawings disclosed a detailed construction of transmission mechanism and associated parts, whereby the driving of the crawlers may be independently controlled for the foregoing purpose, which construction I will now explain. It is to be understood, however, vin this. connection, that this particular construction is illustrated and described simply by way of giving a convenient example of a construction which will accomplish the results deh sired.

v"The wheels 42 for the two crawlers are driven in an l'convenient manner, but a simv ple form o construction will be one in which each of these wheels is provided on its inner face with an annular gear which may be driven by a pinion. The pinions 78 and 7 9 of Fig. 5 are thesepinions, and it is .to be understood that they drive the crawler wheels 42 in any suitable manner. These pinions are mounted upon' the differentialv shaft sections 80 and 81 which are suitably journaled within the transmission box as by means of the roller bearings 82 and 83. The inner ends of the shaft sections 80 and 81 are drivingly connected to the beveled gears 84 and85, as by means of the squared connections V86 and 87, shown in Fig. 5.

A differential box 88 is journaled on the end portions of the shaft sections, saidjournals being effected by the necks 89 and 90. On its interior, this differential box carries the pinions 91 and 92 mounted on the pins 93 and 94, so that by rotating the differential box, the shaft sections 80 and 81 will be differentially driven in a. manner which is well understood in this art.

The differential box is provided on its exterior with a ring gear 95 which is always in mesh with a pinion 96 mounted on a jack shaft 97. This jack shaft is journaled in the transmission box and carries the low speed gear 98 and the high speed gear 99.

In the lower portion of the transmission box is a reversing shaft 100, which carries a pinion 101 always in mesh with the low speed gear 98, nd a gea-r 102 by means of which the pinion 101 may be driven during the reversing operation. v

A control shaft 103 is journaled in the upper portion of the transmission casing as by means of the roller bearings 104 and 105. This control shaft is driven from the engine shaft 106 through the medium of the bev eled gear 107 and the beveled pinion 108, the shaft 106 being journaled in the roller bearing 109. A low speed pinion 110 is splined onto the control shaft 103, and normally stands in the central position shown in Fi 5. By moving this pinion to the left o1' lower portion of Fig. 5, it will mesh directly with the low speed gear 98 to drive in the forward direction at low speed. By moving it to the right or upwardly in Fig. 5, it will mesh with the reversing gear 102, thereby driving the low speed 98 through the medium of the gears 102 and 101 in the reverse direction and at low speed. The high speed pinion 111 is splined to the control shaft 103 or to a sleeve 112 connected to the beveled gear 107 and it normally stands in the position shown in Fig. 5. By moving it to the left or downwardly in Fig.4 5, it will mesh with the high speed gear 99 so as to drive at high speed in the forward direction.

The foregoing arrangement of gears per` mits of two speeds forward and one speed reversed which is suflicient for purposes of a machine of this kind. Any suitable means may be used for shifting the pinions 110 and 111. A convenient shifting means includes the use of the gear shift lever 113 shown in Figs. l, 2, 3 and 4. However, in View of the fact that gear shifting devices are well known and understood in the art, I will not further explain in detail the connections between this lgear shift lever and the pinlons 110 and 111.

' Mounted on the shaft sections 80 and 81 are the brake drums 114 and 115, respectively. A brake band 116 surrounds each of these drums, its central portion being locked against rotation by means of a fixed pin 117 and its end portions being connected together by a toggle connection 118 under control of the brake bar or rod 119. The brake bars bands are connected to the pedals 120 and 121 respectively, so that the operator by pressing his foot against either of these pedals can slow down or lock the corresponding crawler.

The transmission box is provided in its upper portion With a port hole or opening 122 through which access is gained to the gearing and shifting mechanism. Ordinarily this port hole is closed by a plate which is bolted or otherwise secured to the transmission casing. However, in some cases, it may be desirable to use the machine for driving a pulley to which may be connected a belt or the like forrunning an agricultural implement. For this purpose, I have shown in Fig. 6 a removable casing section 123 within which is journaled a gear 124 which, when the casing 123 is set down over the port hole, the pinions' on the control shaft 103. For example, it may mesh with the pinion 111 when said pinion stands in the ofi position shown in Fig. 5. The gear 124 also meshes with a pinion 125 o-n a pulley shaft 126 on which is mounted the belt pulley. I will not explain the construction of mechanism for operating the clutch beyond mentioning the fact that the foot pedal 127 serves to disengage the clutch when it is forced i11- wardly.

or rods 119 for the two brake will mesh with one of I wish to lay particular. emphasis upon the following features: First, the fact that the wheels 24 and 25 are set at a greater gage distance than the crawlers 248L and 25B, so that one or the other of the wheels may be allowed to track in the previously turned furrow while both of the crawlers are riding' on the unplowed land. Secondly, the fact that the crawlers may be differently controlled by the operator so as to facilitate and improve the turning functions.

lWhile I have herein shown and described only a single embodiment of my invention, still it will be understood that I do not limit myself to the said embodiment, except as I may do so in the claims.

I claim vmo framework and of a. pair of longitucombination with a suitable a prime mover thereon,

ing wheels journaled in the front portion of,

dinally extending driving crawlers opera-y the machine and means for turning both of sald wheels simultaneously in the steering function, said steering wheels being 'located a greater distance apart than the gage of the crawlers, and both of the steering wheels 4 and both of the steering wheels'v mag;1

traveling outside of the paths of travel of the crawlers, whereby one of the steering Wheels may travel in a previously cut furrow While both of the' crawlers travel on unplowed land, and whereby the crawlers be simultaneously used in the steering nc! tion, substantially as described.

- 2. In a machine of the class described, the

combination with a lsuitable framework and a prime mover thereon, of a Apair of longitudinally extending driving crawlers operatively mounted in the rear portion ofthe framework, independently controllable driving connections to both of said crawlers from the prime mover, whereby the direction and. speed of said crawlers may be independently controlled, and a pair of steering wheels journaled in the front portion of the machine and means for turning both of said wheels simultaneously the steering function, saidl .steering wh lsbeing located a greater distance apart k,than the gage of the crawlers, whereby one of the steering wheels may travel in a ,previously cut furrow while both ofthe crawlers travel on unplowed land, and whereby the crawlers and both of. the steering wheels may be simultaneously used in the-steering function, substantially as described.

lHARRY H. BATES. 

